In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore what actually makes people stay in veterinary workplaces during difficult times—and why communication may be one of the most powerful retention tools we have.

Grounded in research on positive communication and The Great Resignation, this conversation unpacks how transparency, flexibility, support, and trust shape the way veterinary professionals experience stress, crisis, and connection at work. Because it turns out—people do not just remember the hard days…they remember how those hard days felt, and who they felt them with.

From COVID leadership lessons to everyday “mini-crises” inside veterinary hospitals, this episode highlights how communication is not just something teams do—it becomes part of the culture itself. And when leaders and coworkers communicate with honesty, humanity, and care, resilience becomes something people build together instead of carrying alone.

You’ll hear:
 • Why positive communication plays a major role in employee retention
 • What veterinary teams remember most during stressful or uncertain moments
 • How transparency and flexibility strengthen trust during crisis
 • Why “micro moments” of support can shape workplace culture over time
 • How structuration theory explains the way communication creates culture
 • Why most veterinary communication training misses the other 98% of workplace conversations
 • Practical ways leaders and teams can create cultures people actually want to stay in

Whether you are leading through uncertainty, navigating a difficult season with your team, or simply trying to create a workplace where people feel supported and valued, this episode offers a practical and hopeful look at how communication shapes culture—and why the way we talk to each other during hard times matters more than we think.

Resource Links: 

Episode Article:

Title: The Structuration of Positive Communication Experiences: The Case of the Great Resignation 

Authors: Elizabeth A. Williams , Jennifer S. Linvill, Emeline Ojeda-Hecht, Meghan R. Cosgrove,Autumn Buzzetta, and Abby Konkel

DOI: 10.1177/23294884241263553

Flourish Academy - Certificate in Cultivating Positive Team Communication 

Florida Man This Week - Cats 

What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]

Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC 

Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP

At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth. 

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Catch Up

06:17 Leading Through COVID

14:58 Study Overview and Methods

21:36 Key Findings Positive Communication

23:12 Why Leaders Struggle to Be Transparent

25:41 Flexibility Builds Trust

26:47 Flexibility Builds Culture

32:35 Everyone Shapes Culture

48:09 Florida Man Finale

 Headed to WVC Nashville this August? We'd LOVE to meet you! Andi will be speaking August 16 & 17, and Josh will be there too. Stop by a session and introduce yourself - we always love meeting members of the Veterinary Culture Lab community. Grab your boots, bring your curiosity, and come say hello!